Jung Kyung-ho, Coach of Kangwon FC/Korea Professional Football League
[MyDaily = Seoul World Cup Stadium, Reporter Choi Byung-jin] Coach Jung Kyung-ho of Kangwon FC utilized a megaphone.
Kangwon experienced a 2-4 loss to FC Seoul in the 'Hana Bank K League 1 2025' round 34 match on the 26th at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The defeat was unexpected for Kangwon. During the first half, the team executed strong forward pressure, impeding Seoul's offensive plays. Kangwon maintained control with an effective build-up strategy. Consequently, Kim Gun-hee scored in the first half, and Mo Jae-hyun extended the lead with a penalty kick early in the second half.
However, beginning in the 27th minute of the second half, Kangwon conceded three goals within seven minutes, resulting in the team's downfall. Lingard scored twice, followed by a goal from Ryu Jae-moon, and Chun Sung-hoon secured the win with a final goal.
Following the match, Kangwon's traveling supporters gave Coach Jung a megaphone. This gesture was not solely in response to the loss against Seoul.
Kangwon has recently shown contrasting performances between halves. In the first half, Coach Jung's strategies are effective, but the team loses its advantage in the latter stages.
Kangwon FC/Korea Professional Football League
During a match with FC Anyang (Round 32), Kangwon, leading 1-0, allowed a late equalizer. In another match against Daegu FC, a 2-0 lead ended in a 2-2 draw. In the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) game against Vissel Kobe, a 3-0 first-half lead resulted in a 3-3 draw by the second half. Although Kangwon won with Kim Gun-hee's extra-time goal, concerns grew, leading to the loss against Seoul.
Fans expressed dissatisfaction with these outcomes, leading Coach Jung to address them using a megaphone to express his apology. In a subsequent press conference, Coach Jung remarked, "The fans likely share our disappointment. They always encourage us to maintain our intensity in the second half. I accept responsibility and recognize the need for improvement."
While addressing the need for better second-half performances is evident, opinions differ on the symbolic 'megaphone' incident involving Coach Jung. Last season, Kangwon unexpectedly finished as runners-up and advanced to Final A for two consecutive years. They are currently third in ACLE with 6 points from 2 wins and 1 loss. A K League representative questioned whether the criticism is justified given the club's performance and size.
Jung Kyung-ho, Coach of Kangwon FC/Korea Professional Football League
The pivotal factor in Seoul's comeback was their depth in substitute players. This season, Kangwon has struggled with foreign player availability, a challenge underscored in this match. While Lingard influenced the outcome, Kangwon had no foreign substitutes available due to Gabriel's suspension from yellow card accumulations. This raises questions about achieving success mainly with domestic players. An official noted, "Additionally, this is Coach Jung's first full season as head coach." Enhancing second-half tactics and substitute strategies are areas for improvement, yet a balanced perspective is warranted.
Coach Jung also expressed his thoughtful concerns. "I'm devoting extensive time to analyzing opponents," he stated, highlighting, "Our performance history shows our progress, being runners-up last year and reaching Final A this year. My own development as a coach is evident." He added, "I understand the fans' desire for higher performance levels. Enhancements in second-half play will be made. Now is the time for collective support," he appealed.